Pressure-fluctuating alarm for mines



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.appiiannn fusa oem H.The present invention consists o a pressure fluctuating alarm for mines and has for an object toprovide mechanism which draw the miners. e

provide Will apprise mine o'cials of reduction of air pressure in the mine vso thatfsteps may be taken to restore the air pressure or to With- Another objecty of at a point remote fron; the mine, to he free from any disturbances in the latter, and to be at all times in such close proximity to the oce personnel of the mine that any appreciabie decrease inthe air pressure of the mine will be detected. y

A further obieet of the invention is to apparatus of very simple construcf tion which will last for an indefinite period of time Without any attention or adjustment and will be eflicacious inv the preservation of life by giving ample warning, both visible and. audible, y.when air pressure in the mine is at the danger point.

Other objects of the invention parent "from the following description of ti e present preferred form. ot the invention taken in connection with the'accompanying drawing Wherein1 Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus constructed in accordanceywith the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

o draw it from the mine Fig.

- through the medium which either force 3 is a similar View showing the top ofthe diaphragm casing removed;

Fig. is a fragmentary view oi the diaphragm the manner in which mounted therein; and

F ig. 5

casing illust-rating ,the diaphragm is is a dlagrammatical View of the complete system embodying the signals and electrical circuit which is closed by the diaphragm to operate the signals under predetermined conditions.

It is well known in present day coal mines to regulate the ventilation of the mine of fans or the like air into the mine through the intake opening of the mine or else withreturn opening of the mine. Inthis way the mine is ventilatedpeither through the medium of the so-called air pressure system, where the first of the two methods above men 'cned is followed, or else by the vacuum system, where the latter of the two methods above stated is employed. It has been found y the invention is to provide an apparatus which may bek installed win be a cross sectional the latter extending through through the so-calledV faces with insulated blocks er es, i924. serial no. 746.657.

to be diilicult to determine when the eirpres -sure in the mine is decreasing to a point of of the mme, when Y dangerto the occupants the air pressure system of ventilation is employed'. Conversely, it has been found to ie diilicmt to determine when the vacuum is being relieved in the mine, when-the vacuum system of ventilation is employed, with disastrous results. Furthermore, happens thatJ the air intakeand return Ways freeze up in the winter time with the result that the mine is 'cut oil from ventilation which causes', at times... gas explosions with manifest consequences. it is customary in many mines to employ the air pressure system of ventilation during ytheday and the vacuum method of ventilation at night, Y which has been found more practical in preventing the freezing over of the air Ways. The device ot the present invention has been so constructed that it is equally adaptable for use on either method ot' Ventilating mine and will bo positive in its operation to give timely *warning of any fluctuation of air pressure in the mine.

, The apparatus employed vention consists especially of a diaphragm casing 6 which in the present instance shown to be of rectangular configuratie may be made' of Wood, metal vor other suitable material. A. corrugated water type o .diaphragm 7 is mounted in the casing 6 and embodies va vbase plate or disk 8 having a central opening vvhi h communicates with a right angle way 9 formed inv a spool l() which is secured to the plate 8 andliliewise to the diaphragm casing 6.' They way 9 is incommunication with a pipe 1l which is detachably mounted in the spool l05 sai pipe being extended through one Wall of the casing 6 and adapted to lead into the mine so thatair in the lat-ter is induced into the diaphragm body 7. The outer plate or disk of the diaphragm is adapted forengagement rod l2, the opposite end of the outer wall of the diaphragm casing andbeing equippedwith a yoke 135,11 which a lever 14 made of insulating material, such as libre orrubber, is pivots ly mounted.

The outer wall of the casing 6 is removable and has a pair of plates 15 mountedr thereon between which one end o the bar 14 is pivotally mounted, as indicated at 16. The plates 15 are equipped with one end of it frequently on their inner i 17 made of abr-eq i' in the present inf i lor similar insulating material upon which contact `plates are mounted. One of the contact plates, numbered 18, is relatively long while the other contact plate, numbered 19, is relatively short. These plates are referably made of brass or like high con native .metal and are arranged to he diametrically opposite with the contact 19 .arranged to lie approximately. midway the ends ofthe plate 18. The Contact 18 is engaged by a circuit wire 2O which leads to s. visible signal, such as a lamp,

- o, circuit wire 22 leading therefrom which extends to and is engaged with an audible signal such as a hell 23. The lever 14 has s. spindle 24e extended transversely therethrough and provided with a pair of termi- Sie . in circuit with the latter, will be operated.

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f 'es Ge ing 6 ss illustrated in engage, and light the 4o `seoilently, necessary to provide vv i orge the lever vsprmdingly edusted so as .tir pressnre within the disp? ragm 7 cans-es the letter to he iexed outwardly and hence urges the rod 12 outwardly so esto l'zl. the lever 14e in s. position fwhich will prevent engagement o the brushes with' "the contacts 18 and '19. When the lever 14.-

is in the position shown by full lines in s Fig; 1, the brush on the side of the Contact 18 is spaced onl s short vdistsnee from the letter so that s s ght movement of the lever' 1e will -eeusethe brush 25 and contact 18 to lamp 21.. it is, conmeans which 14 inwsrdly to engage the brushes with the contacts `when the pressure in the diaphragm is reduced 'perrnifcting contraction ci the lat-ier. The ineens emp eyed to eect this resni. may be s coil spring, snch ss is shoe-'n at 2S, one end thereof 'being enY aged with the lever 1 end the opposite en engaged with en edinstinff bolt 29 which.

:is detschsbly mounted in e. renie `rBil. The

freine 3G is adapted to he detachshly mountthe outer fece of the diaphragm ces- Figs. 1 and 2 of the eheveings. By malnng the holt ediusteble the tension of the spring 28 rosy be corto assure expedif tions and comp ete movement of the lever 1e when the diaphragm 7 is controcted.

, :When the vscnuxn system of ventilation is ern loyed the position of the lever 1e will 'be so s 'tisllv as shown'by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, under which condition the disphrsgxn is completel collapsed. As soon es p is ex on the diaphragm hy entrance of air through the pipe 11 the disp psnds so es to correspondingly 21. The Contact llias and 1S.

VWarning to the as onec the hrushesV on the said arm adapted to move the lever 14. soon ss the lever brush will impinge against the contact plate 19 to 'ring thebell 23. l

From. the shove it is'helimfed to be .apparent that so long as the the mine is constant the diaphragm will be held in a predetermined position to retain the lever 14 from movement and hold the brushes 25 disengaged from the contacts 18 Just' as soon, howevenas the air pressure in the mine uctuates, the lever 14 will be'permitted to move onder the infinence of the spring until one of the brushes 25 prinisrilr impinges against the `Contact 18 to light the lamp 21.- 'lhis gives the first oiicials or personnel of the mine cnice or other place in 1vhich this apparatus is installed, that thel air pressure in the mine is uctuating. This affords opportunity to adjust ventia'tnig; conditions in theinine and 'for withdrawing from the mine, ii this precaution isvdeemed necessary. If, however, the air pressure is not restored, the lever move until the other brush 25 engages the Contact 19 thereby operating the audible sigadequately warned of the dangerous condltion on the interior of the mine so that remedial. action may be taken' by them to ireserve the lives of the persons locate in the mine. y f

llt is of conrseto he understood that I .have `shove descrihed simply e preferred forni of my invention and l am aware that numerous changes may be made in the device, and that 1t may he used in dierent ways from the one herein recited. ons changes may he insde in the details of construction, proportion and arrangement o parts Within the scope ci the claims herewith appended.

` is claimed isz-- the miners air pressure in :sov I l. in s pressure-fluctuating alarm, o cir cuit'closer comprising s. sir of relatively long and short 'contacts disposed oppositely to esch other and .arranged so that the short contact is approximately midway the ends ci the long contact, a switch erm pivotelly mounted or reciprocston between the said contacts and having' brushes adapted for engagement with the contacts .when the said arm 1s moved' inwardly. between the contacts, and means cr'moving the switch arm inveertigl between the said contacts. 2: s. pressure-inctuating alarm, s circuit closer comprising' a switch arm pivotely mounted at one end, contacts arran on op te sides ofthe said arm, bru es the contscts when the arm is moved mwardl e5 i nal 23. In this way, the mine personnel is 21,655,282 if -,-i E

tween hitter, a rod connected to the seid eemen on its inne? fece, a ewch arm havl5 arm, an expansbe diaphragm connected with said rod and adapted when expanded to hold the switch 'arm positioned. Awith the brushes dsengged'rom the ccntacts, and means to urge the arm inwardly between he contacts to engage the brushes therewith when. the pressure in the diaphragm is reduced. Y

cuit-closer compnsing a casing, a pair of `supporcing'; pla-ees en the outer Wall of the' casing` each of seid pates having a'contact ing on 'end petaly supperted between said plates', a frame mounted on the outer wall of the cnc-sing adjacent the free end of the switch `arm, a `tensioning spring having one end attached to the frame and the other end to the free end of the switch arm, con'-V taet 'brushes on the said switch .arm for en-' gagng; the Said contacts of the said plates when the arm is recprocaed therebetween.,

I RAY C. PAGAN. 

